Simple Soccer Techniques

Compiled tips from several sources.   Eric Daughtry, Major League Coaching Director

Dribbling

-         Angle your feet so the wide surfaces of your feet are making contact with the ball.

-         Keep your eyes on the ball BUT look up between touches.

-         Keep the ball close.

-         Start practicing dribbling slowly and progress.

-         You must understand – just kicking the ball and running after it is NOT dribbling.

 

Shielding

-         One foot close to the ball and one foot back.

-         Arms stretched out and down the side, make your arms rigid and strong.

-         Keep your back and hip facing the opposition.

-         Be on your toes ready to shift left or right.

 

Inside Hook Turn

-     Plant foot next to the ball.

-         Keep your eyes on the ball.

-         Pivot on your plant foot and drag round with the inside of the foot.

-         Keep your foot a little off the floor.

 

Outside Hook Turn

-     Plant foot next to the ball.

-         Keep your eyes on the ball.

-         Pivot on your plant foot and push round with the outside of the foot.

-         Push off non-kicking foot.

-         Keep your foot a little off the floor.

 

Stop Turn

-         Put foot on the ball

-         Stop ball – do not drag back.

-         Turn back around.

-         Take ball and accelerate away.

 

Pullback Turn

-         Eyes on the ball.

-         Plant foot next to the ball.

-         Pull ball back from bottom of heel to toe.

-         Keep your belly button always facing the ball.

 

Push Pass

-         Place your non-kicking foot (plant foot) next to the ball, knees slightly bent.

-         Plant foot should point towards the target.

-         Bend your kicking leg.

-         Put your weight on your plant foot.

-         Rotate your kicking leg at the hip at a 90 degrees angle and make sure the ankles are locked and rigid on the kicking foot.

-         Keep your eyes on the ball when striking the ball and strike the center of the ball with the inside of the foot.

-         For more power in the pass, follow your kicking leg all the way through the ball.

 

Instep Kick

-         Place your plant foot next to the ball pointed towards the target.

-         Bend your knees slightly.

-         Put your weight on non-kicking foot.

-         Balance with your arms.

-         Bend your kicking leg and withdraw your leg.

-         Lock your ankle on your kicking foot with your toes pointing towards the floor.

-         Keep your eyes on the ball when striking the ball. Keep your head, knee and foot all in a line over the ball on the impact when kicking.

-         Strike the middle of the ball with the laces of your shoe with toe remaining pointed towards the ground.

-         For more power follow your kicking leg through the ball when striking.

 

Bottom of Foot Control

-         Keep your eyes on the ball when controlling.

-         Lift controlling foot off the floor with toes pointing in the air at a 45% angle.

-         Gently bring controlling foot down on the ball, like an alligators mouth chomping on the ball.

 

Side of Foot Control

-         Keep your eyes on the ball when controlling.

-         Raise the toe up on the receiving foot.

-         Raise the foot from the ground a little.

-         Withdraw the controlling leg back as the ball arrives.

-         Let the middle of the ball hit the inside of the foot.

 

Body Control

-         When controlling a bouncing ball allow the ball to hit your legs or body.

-         Try and make contact with the ball as it’s hitting the floor at its lowest point.

-         Move forward and lean over and into the ball.

 

 

 

Toe Taps

-         Keep on your toes.

-         Gently start of by just tapping the top of the ball changing feet.

-         Add a hop and tap the ball.

 

Block Tackle

-         Plant foot next to the ball.

-         Tackling foot pointing out with the inside of the foot facing the ball, toes pointing slightly up.

-         Both knees slightly bent.

-         Lean over the ball.

-         Strike the middle of the ball with inside of the foot.

-         Make sure the striking leg is slightly bent.

-         Ankles should be locked and strong.

 

Throw-Ins

-         Hands behind the ball in a “W” shape, thumbs close together.

-         Put the ball behind the head as if you were scratching your back with the ball.

-         Start off on your heels and rock forward onto your toes.

-         Both feet must remain on the floor until the ball has been released from the hands.

-         Pretend the kids are wearing big steel boots that are very heavy and can’t leave the floor.

 

Juggling

-         Keep your eyes on the ball when juggling.

-         Be ready to adjust your feet and body by being on your toes.

-         Strike the middle of the ball.

-         Start with simple thigh juggles back into the hands.

-         Then use the foot to juggle. Striking with the laces, foot pointing out and toes pointing slightly upwards.

-         Progress to thigh then foot juggles.

-         Make up different combinations.

 

Stretching

-         When stretching try and use the ball as much as you can.

-         Stretching should be kept short and simple for the young kids.